The Competitiveness of Rural County Manufacturing During a Period of Dollar Appreciation

47 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2012

See all articles by Dan Bechter

Dan Bechter

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Christine Chmura

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Date Written: March 1, 1990

Abstract

Some observers contend that manufacturing activity in rural areas has been more adversely affected than in urban areas by foreign competition. It is true, of course, that the economies of some rural areas have been devastated by closing of key manufacturing plants. Even if plant closings were distributed randomly among rural and urban areas, however, some rural areas (as well as some urban areas) would suffer greatly because of their "company town" character. We found little empirical support in the literature for the claim that rural areas on average suffered disproportionately from foreign competition. But we did find two studies indicating that manufacturing employment in non-metropolitan areas had fared as well or better than in metropolitan areas.

Suggested Citation

Bechter, Dan and Chmura, Christine, The Competitiveness of Rural County Manufacturing During a Period of Dollar Appreciation (March 1, 1990). Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Working Paper No. 90-4, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2123581 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2123581

Dan Bechter (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

P.O. Box 27622
Richmond, VA 23261
United States

Christine Chmura

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond ( email )

P.O. Box 27622
Richmond, VA 23261
United States

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